Louis Erard has become a giant success story within the Swiss watch industry in recent years. Although this company has an 80-year history of producing high quality mechanical watches, it was largely unknown until Alain Spinedi and a group of private investors purchased it in 2003. Since that time, Spinedi has been able to turn the financially struggling watchmaker around by carefully introducing technically innovative new timepieces adhering to the original Louis Erard policy of manufacturing 100-percent mechanical, classically styled watches.

Many Couture visitors got their first taste of these high quality and completely original mechanical timepieces when they visited the Louis Erard display in the Wynn Hotel’s Chambertin 2 Ballroom during the Couture show. Jewelers and retailers were not only impressed, some were even astonished, at Louis Erard’s unique combination of Swiss quality craftsmanship and affordable pricing.

On display were a number of new Louis Erard introductions for 2013, including a new 1931 chronograph with a beautiful grey dial and several exciting moon phase complications. It didn’t go unnoticed that every Louis Erard watch making its North American debut at the Couture show featured a high quality Swiss made movement. The fact that some of these hand crafted mechanical timepieces retailed for as low as $700 to $900 was even more impressive to many visitors.

Louis Erard is not a large company. Last year, the company only employed 26 people including 9 master watchmakers. Quality and craftsmanship have always been more important than quantity to Alain Spinedi, but with the attention this brand received at Couture 2013, the company is bound to grow in the years ahead.

Although many now view watches as fashion accessories, there is still an appreciation for old fashion quality and craftsmanship. As many Couture visitors discovered, Louis Erard is doing a fantastic job of keeping the tradition of fine mechanical watches alive for a whole new generation of watch aficionados.